Q&A: Wrinkle Creams

Insights from Dr. Andrea Pennington

Q: I have tried many wrinkle creams, but none of them seem to work. Why?

A: There can be many reasons why wrinkle creams don’t seem to work. If you smoke, no cream can undo the damage to your skin. Smoking causes biochemical reactions in the skin that accelerate aging. Stopping smoking is the single most powerful “anti-aging” strategy there is. Aside from that, there could be other factors:

Do you use sunscreen every day, rain or shine? Without protection from the sun’s rays, even just a few minutes a day of exposure over the years can cause premature wrinkling, age spots, and fine lines that wrinkle creams can’t mend. With repeated exposure to the sun, skin loses the ability to “repair” itself, breaking down collagen and elastin. Skin loses its elasticity and becomes “loose” and leathery. Use a sunscreen product with an SPF rating of at least 15 that shields your skin from both UVA and UVB rays.

Do you practice a twice-daily skin care routine? Skin responds to a consistent three-step basic care regimen – cleanse, moisturize, and protect, twice a day, morning and night. If you’ve been lax or inconsistent in caring for your skin, you can’t expect miracles from a wrinkle cream. Do you use facial expressions frequently? Repetitive facial movements (frowning, squinting, pursing lips, and, yes, even smiling) lead to fine lines and wrinkling that are nearly impossible to erase. Every time we use facial muscles – and especially repetitively – a groove forms below the skin’s surface. Over time, as skin ages and loses elasticity, the skin stops springing back, and the grooves become permanently etched on our faces.

If visible signs of aging bother you, consult a dermatologist for more information about the best treatments available for your skin type, your lifestyle, and your budget. Anti-aging research is leading the way to many promising new treatments that can restore skin, giving it a smooth, refreshed appearance that can’t be found in any jar of “wrinkle cream.”

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